SELAYAR – The commitment to strengthening vocational education in island regions was reaffirmed through the construction of a dormitory (mess) for the Faculty of Vocational Studies of Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Selayar Campus. The facility will support academic activities and is also part of a long-term investment in human resource development in the Selayar Islands Regency.
The dormitory will be built on a 2,093-square-meter plot of land and is designed as housing for lecturers and students. The facility is expected to broaden access to more decent and sustainable education for the people of the region. Construction is projected to be completed within the next year.
The Regent of the Selayar Islands, H. Muhammad Natsir Ali, said that the presence of Unhas in Selayar is both an honor and a great source of pride for the region. According to Natsir Ali, Unhas brings not only an academic relationship but also an important contribution to human resource development in Selayar.
“This development is not merely about putting up a physical building, but a long-term investment to produce outstanding human resources in Selayar,” Natsir Ali explained.
Natsir Ali said Unhas’s commitment to supporting regional development is already evident in its development of vocational education and in the construction of facilities that support education. Natsir Ali regarded these steps as a major investment in the region’s future.
Synergy between the regional government and higher education institutions is an important strength in creating outstanding and competitive human resources. Natsir Ali expressed hope that this collaboration can be expanded to the strategic sectors that underpin the economy of Selayar’s people, from marine affairs, fisheries, and tourism to the development of an economy based on local potential.
“Selayar will grow stronger through collaboration with Unhas,” Natsir Ali stated.
Meanwhile, the Rector of Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc., said that quality education is the main foundation for building human resources and strengthening regional development. Prof. JJ said Selayar has great potential to grow through improving the quality of its people.
“The presence of Unhas in Selayar is expected to become the momentum for a model region in building strong human resources, with the full support of the regional government,” Prof. JJ explained.
The groundbreaking for the dormitory was held at the Vocational Campus Area, Selayar Islands Regency, on Saturday (16 May). The event was attended by regional government officials and other university leaders.
The event concluded with a tree planting by the Rector together with the Regent of the Selayar Islands, as a symbol of growing hope for strengthening vocational education, human resource development, and the sustainability of collaboration between Unhas and the Selayar Islands Regency Government in the island region. (*/mir)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.